Loads of crystallised Rape, can you blend with himalayan balsam honey?

[fred scuttle]

I got quite a large amount of Rape honey in spring from a couple of my apairies, reading on the tinternet they talk about seeding with creamed honey but can I blend it with himalayan balsam honey from a later crop at my other sites or do I have seed it as recommended to get the smooth non setting like brick texture of creamed honey versus rock hard rape? Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Beefriendly]

Its' not clear what you intend to do Fred, just add balsam honey to set rape honey?
No matter it won't work.

At least 2 ways.
1. Fully liquefy your set OSR honey and add 10% volume of creamed/soft set honey....buy from supermarket if non! Oer make your onw, pestle and mortar/liquidizer.
Add to runny OSR, mix well, leave, mix a few more times. Bottle.

2. Buy a potato masher from Throens....big honey creamer. Semi liquify your rape honey and work it over with this implement, rest, work, rest, work for a few days and the result is usually a fine soft set.

The drill ones work, but in my hands introduce far too much air, resulting in a lot of froth.....even when running in reverse.

 

[fred scuttle]

Thanks for the advice BF, I will try both methods and see which one is best. Cheers

 

[Anduril]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=kLGE-7n0_Ko
From a forum member who no longer keeps bees. Or the Norfolk Honey Company for a longer demo.

 

[Poly Hive]

I would suggest reading this forum for how to cream honey, there is a fair bit and at the moment being blunt you are a paid up member of confused.com.

The info is on here though.

PH

 

[Beefriendly]

The info is on here though.

PH

Quite a lot in post number 2 on this thread...if you don't mind!

 

[Anduril]

I would suggest reading this forum for how to cream honey, there is a fair bit and at the moment being blunt you are a paid up member of confused.com.

The info is on here though.

PH

It is also a sticky on the forum.

 

[Beefriendly]

It is also a sticky on the forum.

It sure is sticky if you get any on your keyboard as well.

 

[Amari]

It is also a sticky on the forum.

That sticky (in the Honey section) must be the most confusing and contradictory sticky on the forum - but exemplifies the dictum 'ask three beekeepers their opinion and you'll get half a dozen different answers'.
The arguments rage: is OSR honey made up of large or small crystals? Do you need to seed or not?
My method this last two years: allow the OSR to crystallise in buckets. Then warm to 32-35C in a cabinet for about two days while stirring thoroughly with a creamer for a few minutes every few hours. When the honey is liquid enough to flow off the creamer decant into your settling tank and jar while still warm. The honey remains soft-set for a year or more.
Seems to work for me - no seed needed. I do wonder if other co-existant nectars e.g. dandelion, sycamore etc might alter the outcome.

 

[drex]

Belt and braces for me. I let the osr set, then liquefy in warming cabinet, let it cool and add seed ( from last batch) , leave for 24 hours, then stir like mad a few times a day, for a few days. I use a home made stirrer, which is a stainless steel spaghetti ladle which I have hammered flat, driven by my cordless electric drill. Warm and then jar. Makes a lovely soft set, which remains the same for a good couple of years.

 

[fred scuttle]

Thanks Amari and Drex, good advice